Maintaining the quality of life in caregivers is just as important as maintaining the quality of life in people with arthritis. Arthritis manifests differently in different individuals, but it is a debilitating, physically and psychologically taxing condition not just for the person living with arthritis, but the caregiver as well.
A caregiver could be a nominated family member, spouse, or close friend. Often the tools to support caregivers are often lacking. In this article we are going to share some tips on the following:
- Separating caregiving tasks and daily tasks
- Preserving and restoring health in the caregiver
Types of Arthritis and Caregiving
Some types of Arthritis can lead to substantial deterioration of the joints and their functions, which could result in the increasing reliance on the provision of care e.g. cleaning the house, doing the laundry, helping out with appointments and transport.
Because we care about the person living with arthritis, we want to support and help them as much as we can but due to the slow and progressive nature of arthritis, this requires more dependency and comes with more demands over time.
It is not uncommon where we see carers put so much energy into caring that they forget to care for themselves. The tasks often required to care for your person are mostly comprised of care tasks, home tasks and help tasks.
- Care tasks may include help with dressing, cleaning, walking, driving, showering and moving around.
- Home tasks may involve housekeeping, laundry, cleaning, cooking.
- Help tasks may involve attending appointments and social visits.
The level of care required often depends on the level of need.
Tips to Avoid Caregiver Burnout
To separate and distinguish your caregiver tasks to relieve some of the burden and avoid caregiver ‘burnout’ you should:
- Communicate effectively
- Prioritise your most important daily tasks
- Identify what is within your control and not in your control
Preserving and Restoring Health
- Learn how to safely provide ‘hands on assistance’ to prevent injury and muscle strain.
- Ensure you are getting enough, good quality sleep, getting enough good quality whole foods in the diet like fresh fruits and vegetables, and prioritising exercise.
- Prioritise yourself. What does self-care mean to you?
- Join a support group and connect with others who understand what you are going through.
- Speak to a mental health professional, who is equipped with tools to navigate your feelings.